NATO summit opens in Ankara as new defense deals fuel militarization concerns

The NATO leaders' summit opened in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Tuesday with a Defense Industry Forum, unveiling major defense industry initiatives aimed at accelerating weapons production and procurement, amid growing concerns over the alliance's expanding militarization.

Marking its first inclusion in a NATO summit, the forum brought together senior NATO officials and representatives from major Western defense companies to discuss efforts to integrate military supply chains across member states.

At the event, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte launched the Drone Edge Initiative aimed at strengthening counter-drone capabilities, saying member states would commit more than 40 billion U.S. dollars to the sector over the next five years.

He also unveiled a new Front Door platform designed to facilitate private defense companies' access to alliance contracts, and a 2.8-billion-dollar industrial cooperation initiative under which U.S. defense companies, including Lockheed Martin, could partner with European firms to produce U.S.-designed weapons, such as Abrams tanks and ATACMS missiles, in Europe.

The latest initiatives come as Rutte continues to press allies to raise defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035, the agreement reached at last year's NATO Summit in The Hague.

The target is widely seen as a key part of the Trump administration's push for what it has called "NATO 3.0," which aims to shift the primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense from the United States to European member states. U.S. President Donald Trump has long threatened to reconsider U.S. security guarantees for NATO allies if they do not increase defense spending.

The Ukrainian conflict has been another key topic at this year's NAOT summit. NATO is expected to pledge about 80 billion U.S. dollars in military aid to Ukraine this year, and maintain "at least the same level" of support the next year. But some allies, including Italy and Slovak, hold differing views on the matter.

The summit runs from Tuesday to Wednesday.

NATO summit opens in Ankara as new defense deals fuel militarization concerns

The next round of talks between Israel and Lebanon is expected to take place in Rome in mid July, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Tuesday.

A foreign ministry spokesperson said on the day that Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors will hold direct talks in Rome on July 15 and 16.

The meeting will mark the sixth round of negotiations between the two countries, following five ambassador-level talks held in Washington since April.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar confirmed on Tuesday that talks will take place in Rome next week, but did not specify the exact date.

Several Israeli media outlets quoted Israel's ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter as saying that the talks are expected to begin next Tuesday in Rome.

Speaking at a meeting in Jerusalem alongside his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, Sa'ar said Israel seeks peace with its neighbors, but any agreement must be based on "security."

There has been no response from Lebanon yet.

The previous round, held in late June, ended with a framework agreement covering the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two areas in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are still conducting operations against Hezbollah.

Israel, Lebanon to hold next round of talks in Rome